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UK energy watchdog IIP rejects allegations of substandard fuel imports against Dangote refinery
…Makes technically inaccurate statements
The Impact Investigators Platform (IIP), a UK-based energy watchdog, has cleared the Dangote oil refinery of charges of importing substandard petrol into Nigeria. The IIP investigation found no evidence to support the claims, saying the refinery imported intermediate feedstock, not finished fuel, and that its operations are consistent with global refinery practices. Describing the claims as “technically inaccurate, commercially implausible and unsupported by verifiable evidence.
The IIP investigation revealed that the shipment in question was an intermediate raw material used for further processing and not a finished fuel product. This is contained in a report signed on Friday by its chief investigator, Raymond Neil, saying that his independent assessment of shipping data, customs declarations and refinery process documentation found no indication that the refinery imported or sold Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) finished with sulfur levels above Nigeria’s approved limit of 50 parts per million (ppm).
Neil said the IIP launched its investigation after media reports that a vessel had delivered high sulfur petrol to the Dangote refinery under the guise of local refined products.
The investigator, however, noted that the cargo in question was an intermediate raw material; a feedstock commonly traded between refineries around the world for further processing, not a finished fuel for retail sale.
“Our analysis confirms that the referenced shipment was a blending component, not a finished petroleum product,” Neil said.
“It was imported in the context of refinery optimization and was never intended for direct distribution or sale to the public. The claim that the Dangote Refinery imported dirty fuel into Nigeria is therefore misleading and inconsistent with both technical and commercial reality.”
As a result, the investigation examined laboratory test results, refinery capacity utilization records and inspection certificates and found no evidence that the refinery imported gasoline with sulfur levels above Nigeria’s approved limit.
According to the report, “The IIP found that the refinery’s import documentation and regulatory approvals were consistent with Nigerian regulations and that it operates under a free trade zone license.”
However, the IIP report highlights the importance of accuracy and transparency in reporting on refinery operations and praises the Dangote refinery for its proactive compliance culture and commitment to providing cleaner fuels that meet international standards.
He pointed out that global refinery complexes, including those in Europe and Asia, regularly import intermediate streams such as high-sulfur catalytic gasoline (HSCG) or straight-run naphtha to balance their production yields.
“This is normal industry practice and in no way implies that substandard or harmful fuel is being sold to consumers,” the expert said.
According to the IIP report, the Dangote refinery’s import documentation and regulatory clearances were consistent with the rules of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), which oversee raw material imports and quality assurance.
The refinery, it said, also operates under a free trade zone license, which means that all imported materials are subject to domestic refining before entering the domestic fuel market.
Neil noted that his organisation’s review included a review of laboratory test results, refinery capacity utilization records and inspection certificates lodged with port authorities in both the UK and Nigeria.
He said none of the documents reviewed support the claim that the refinery imported gasoline ready for local consumption.
“The sulfur levels cited in the reports were associated with the intermediate grade gasoline used as processing input, not the finished fuel. To suggest otherwise is to misunderstand how refineries work. The Dangote complex is designed to transform such feedstocks into ultra-low sulfur gasoline through hydrodesulfurization and other advanced refining processes,” Neil clarified.
He stressed that misrepresentation of such technical details could erode public confidence in the refinery at a time when Nigeria is seeking to bolster domestic refining capacity and reduce dependence on imported fuel.
“The Dangote project remains a strategic national asset. The public debate around it must be based on facts, not conjecture,” Neil said.
The IIP also urged Nigerian authorities to establish a rapid response mechanism to verify refinery operations and product quality claims to prevent disinformation from spreading unchecked.
“Transparency is key. But transparency also requires responsible reporting and a technical understanding of what the data means,” Neil said.
The IIP report also praised the refinery for what it described as its “proactive compliance culture,” noting that its internal audit systems mirror standards enforced by the European Refining Association and the American Petroleum Institute.
“Our analysis shows that every product stream that leaves the Dangote refinery is accompanied by a quality certificate issued by an ISO certified laboratory,” Neil said.
“We also found evidence that these certificates are routinely submitted to the NMDPRA prior to any local submissions. This is the type of governance structure that should be encouraged, not denigrated.”
He concluded by reaffirming the group’s willingness to share its findings with relevant Nigerian institutions and civil society organizations to promote an evidence-based discourse on refinery operations.
“The energy transition requires accuracy, not alarmism. Our findings clear the Dangote refinery of accusations of importing dirty fuel. What we found instead is a refinery engaged in legitimate global business practices, subject to regulation and committed to providing cleaner fuels that meet international standards,” Neil said.
